Man who died in hospital after A19 crash is named

Petra Silfverskiold

The 49-year-old man who died in hospital after he was involved in a collision on the A19 in County Durham yesterday has been named.

Jason Hunt, from Acklam Road, Thornaby, is believed to have taken ill at the wheel of his blue Ford Ranger, prior to the crash with an Iveco lorry, at about 12.50pm on Wednesday.

A lorry was also involved in the collision on the northbound carriageway.

The Ranger was travelling in the inside lane, just before the slip road to the A1018 north of Dalton Park, when it appears to have veered across the carriageway and collided with the central reservation.

It then crossed back into lane one and collided with the rear of the truck, driven by a 26-year-old man from Bradford.

The driver of the Ford Ranger was given emergency surgery at the roadside, before he was taken by air ambulance to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where he later died.

It is thought he may have been taken ill at the wheel, but a post mortem examination will be carried out to determine a formal cause of death.

The northbound side of the A19 was closed to traffic until 5.20pm to allow for the scene to be examined and the vehicles removed.

Any witnesses are asked to contact the collision investigation unit on (0191) 375 2159.